Conversions & Swaps LSX Engines in Non-LSX Vehicles
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 12:55 PM
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Someone offered my 6K for my car and was wondering how much it would cost to do a ls swap to a mustang.. Needed is a mustang, motor, trans, and pretty much everything else..Just wondering is 6K going to be enough to do this.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 01:33 PM
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What kind of mustang? Fox I assume, if you picked up a cheap 4 cyl, did all the work yourself, and didnt do to much upgrading it is possible. It really all depends on the deals you get on the parts and if you do something like a 5.3 instead of a LS1 etc.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 01:47 PM
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yes foxbody and we will do all the work ourselves. All i want to do is cam right now and later on upgrade stuff..I just want to get it running if i decide to take the 6K and do it...
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 02:05 PM
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It really depends on the deals you find and what route you go. I was $6k into mine with just a car and motor/trans. Heres a quick run down on my costs so far.

Car - $1600
LS1/4L60E w/12.5K on the clock - $4300
5 lug rearend with 4:10's - $300
Add for the correct width Moser axles - $245
Trac - lok rebuild w/ carbon discs - $110
Front cobra brake setup - $300
Master cylinder - $50
Brake Booster - $125
Misc. items needed to finish swap - $315
New rims and tires - $1300
Lakewood shocks (front) - $200*
QA1 rear shocks - $200
UPR Coilover kit - $260*
Rear springs - $50
AJE k member - $350*
AJE A-arms - $280*
AJE crossmember 4l60e specific - $150
Manual steering Rack - $230
Steering shaft - $75
Steeda ball joints - $50
255 lph fuel pump - $100*
Fuel filter - $50*
AN fittings - $60+*
Braided fuel line - $75*
F-body radiator - $75*
F-body Electric fans - $75*
Radiator hoses - $40*
Reworked wiring harness from Speartech - $450
Battery - $125*
Relocation kit for battery - $200
Cam, springs, valve seals, oil pump, pushrods - $1100
built trans good to 500hp w/shift kit - $900
Cold air intake - $250*
Lokar shifter - $200* (may get lucky and the trans you buy includes a shifter)
Aftermarket gauges - $600 (can modify a stock gauge panel for about $100)
Base tune - $150*
Kooks headers - $500 (normally $700 but got on a group purchase. Also you can modify headers to work)*
Cat back - $375 (this varies greatly)*
Custom mid pipe - $200ish?*
Custom driveshaft $200-$300*

Of course if you dont have the tools needed add that in.
Cam/spring swap tools - $400
Engine lift - $200
Engine stand - $50
Jack - $50-$200
Jack stands - $25-$50
hand tools - $200+ (I assume you would have those though)


Everything with a * next to it I consider required. I left a few things off like the harness since it can be done on your own with some time. Also if you have friends that can give you deals or help out on stuff some of the cost can be reduced or gone completely.

Total without a motor/trans and car (since these can be had in great price ranges) Im at about $3400. Oh course I feel the upgraded brakes is a requirement on foxbodies but the swap can be done without them. Total im close to $9000 into my swap. but i am one of those "i might as well change it while im here" guys plus i made my budget around $10k so I wasnt always waiting around for cheap parts.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 02:07 PM
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I'd agree that 6k is possible, but you have to be frugal. I got a minty Jag for $1400, then an LQ4/4L80E for $2k, so I'm getting close to 4k before getting the engine in the car. I'll be at 6k by the time it's running, as I'm paying someone to do work the harness, and still need cooling, driveshaft, and a bunch of odds and ends. I probably won't be under 6k by the time I have gauges, a/c, etc.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by layz
yes foxbody and we will do all the work ourselves. All i want to do is cam right now and later on upgrade stuff..I just want to get it running if i decide to take the 6K and do it...
If you cant afford to do the supporting mods for the cam I would wait. springs at minimum should be changed.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 03:23 PM
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I may have 2000 in mine so far. Here is what I have in mine so far:

93 coupe $300
216k lq4 complete $300
wiring harness with fuse box and pcm $100
AJE k-member $400
f-body radiator with fans $75
ls6 intake $225
walbro 255 pump $75
random sensors $50?
hoses $50?
driveshaft $150
8.8 rear end - $150
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 03:50 PM
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Probably won't believe me but I've got $800 in this LR4 Jeep on a Corvette chassis. $900 for the 1984 Vette, $350 for the 2001 4.8, $200 for the 4l60e, $200 for a CJ7. Then sold the Vette's body and engine, Jeep's chassis, hardtop ($700 just for that), etc. I've kept very careful records of the cost so I'm sure on my figures.

If you make everything you can and are willing to cut where others buy fancy headers and such, you can do it pretty cheap. Also, if you are willing to go with a 4.8 or 5.3 that helps a lot.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 04:17 PM
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5.3 is fine. I would be happy with that.. Later i can do heads and cam etc to make it more lively...So it can be done for 6K if i use a 5.3l..All i want to do is get it running and maybe a cam...
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by layz
5.3 is fine. I would be happy with that.. Later i can do heads and cam etc to make it more lively...So it can be done for 6K if i use a 5.3l..All i want to do is get it running and maybe a cam...
Easily done for 6k.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by layz
5.3 is fine. I would be happy with that.. Later i can do heads and cam etc to make it more lively...So it can be done for 6K if i use a 5.3l..All i want to do is get it running and maybe a cam...
Thats exactly what I said at first. Then the bug bit me lol. It can be done for $6K for sure. Just dont give in to temptation.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 06:29 PM
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i did a lq4/4l80e gn 8.5 rear into a regal with a t76 turbo and hptuners for about 5500. it only took 2 years to get all the parts at the right price and some dumb luck. granted it's a junkyard roach but thats what i expected. guess it depends how fussy you are.
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Old Dec 22, 2010 | 04:40 PM
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i have decided to do a 5.3 and a turbo 350 or 400. i have found the car. Well now to get to it. What all do i need to do swap into a foxbody. its a 90lx. i know i need quite a bit of stuff. i have a ruff estimate of what i need. Can some one help me out. oh and i got 5500 to spend.
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Old Dec 22, 2010 | 06:37 PM
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Just search for ls1 mustangs. It's took me a lot of looking around on here and google to find info I needed but it's out there readily/easily accessible. It did take a few nights of looking through threads though.
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